Archive for September 22nd, 2010

Drunk driving is one if those crimes which is highly susceptible to falsifying evidence. This is because the offense is highly dependent on the cop’s own observations and opinion. Typically, proving "driving under the influence of alcohol" depends upon the officer’s testimony of such symptoms as weaving on the highway, odor of alcohol on the breath, flushed face, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, poor balance, staggering when walking, etc. Usually, there are no other witnesses to contradict these "observations"; certainly, no one will believe the accused.

The only evidence that can contradict the officer is a blood or breath test. However, this is easily avoided: the cop simply claims that the arrested citizen "refused" to submit to testing. This results in higher criminal penalties — and avoids any evidence contradicting the officer’s damning observations and opinion of intoxication.

The dismissal of the cases in a result of a lengthy investigation of over 200 cases of arrests made by former Sacramento Police officer Brandon Mullock. Mullock resigned from the police department on August 27th. He was initially placed on administrative leave in January after being arrested for brandishing a weapon while off-duty after getting in an argument with someone on 9th St. and J St . Mullock later plead guilty to disturbing the peace.

During the course of the investigation of Mullock, discrepencies were discovered in several DUI reports made by Mullock and police forwarded their case to the District Attorney’s office which lead to the dismissal of the 79 cases today.